--- title: "CVE-2020-1054: Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability | CubePath" description: "An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Windows kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who…" language: en source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-1054 --- # CVE-2020-1054: Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability | CubePath ## Description An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Windows kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and take control of an affected system. The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting how the Windows kernel-mode driver handles objects in memory. Official description from the CVE record, published by microsoft. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-1054) ## Key data ### CVSS 3.1 High 7.0 Score published by microsoft in the CVE record. CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C | Metric | Value | What it means | | ---------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Attack vector | Local | The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something. | | Attack complexity | High | The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation. | | Privileges required | Low | A basic user account is needed. | | User interaction | None | No action from any user is needed. | | Scope | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component. | | Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. | | Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. | | Availability impact | High | Serious or total effect on availability. | CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) . ### EPSS Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days. Score 0.53878 (53.9% probability) Percentile 99.0% Scores of Nov 10, 2026 Model v2026.06.15 ### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Name in the catalog Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability Added to the catalog Nov 3, 2021 Federal due date May 3, 2022 ### CISA assessment as of Feb 7, 2025 Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA. Exploitation Recorded by CISA as active Automatable no Technical impact total ### Weakness (CWE) CWE catalog version 5.0. CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license. - [CWE-787](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/787.html) Out-of-bounds Write ## Affected products Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them. - Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507 - affected: 10.0.10240.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607 - affected: 10.0.14393.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1709 - affected: 10.0.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems - affected: 10.0.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1803 - affected: 10.0.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 - affected: 10.0.17763.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 - affected: 10.0.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems - affected: 10.0.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems - affected: 10.0.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems - affected: 10.0.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909 - affected: 10.0.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 7 - affected: 6.1.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 - affected: 6.1.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows 8.1 - affected: 6.3.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 - affected: 6.1.7601.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) - affected: 6.1.7601.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 - affected: 6.0.6003.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) - affected: 6.0.6003.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2012 - affected: 6.2.9200.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) - affected: 6.2.9200.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 - affected: 6.3.9600.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) - affected: 6.3.9600.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2016 - affected: 10.0.14393.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) - affected: 10.0.14393.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2019 - affected: 10.0.17763.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) - affected: 10.0.17763.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server, version 1803 (Server Core Installation) - affected: 10.0.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation) - affected: 10.0.0 up to before publication - Microsoft Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation) - affected: 10.0.0 up to before publication ## References Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control. - [Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2020-1054) (msrc.microsoft.com) vendor-advisory patch - [portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/…](https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-1054) - [packetstormsecurity.com/files/160515/Microsoft-Windows-Draw…](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160515/Microsoft-Windows-DrawIconEx-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html) ## Timeline 1. ID reserved Nov 4, 2019 2. Record published May 21, 2020 3. Added to CISA KEV Nov 3, 2021 4. Record last updated Oct 7, 2026 ## Look up another CVE ## About CubePath CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection. [Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection) Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 20:04 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)